The Regional Controller of Mines of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) located at Bhubaneswar has ordered for suspension of the mining operations of Thakurani iron and manganese ore mines owned by Bharat Process and Mechanical Engineers Ltd (BPME), Barbil.
The action against the mining company was taken following the recommendation of the Task Force constituted by the IBM, under the Union ministry of mines, for deviation from the approved mining plan.
Similarly, three other mines were issued show cause notice for violation of the provisions of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988. They are Thakurani iron mines of Kaypee Enterprises, Patabeda iron and manganese mines of MGM Minerals and Patabeda iron and manganese mines of MG Mohanty.
The Task Force, which visited those four mines in Keonjhar district, has been authorised to issue the violation letters to the mining companies on the spot.
Meanwhile, the state government has revoked the order to suspend mining operations for three companies taking the total number of mining companies asked to suspend operations to 125. One company each in Sukinda, Sambalpur and Koida has been issued the revocation order as they were able to produce all the required documents.
“The revocation order has been issued to three mining companies as they were able to submit all the required documents”, J R Patnaik, director, mines of the Orissa government said.